David Ma
@davidmadavidma.bsky.social
Music journalist/editor: NPR, Wax Poetics, Dust & Grooves, Complex, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, The Paris Review, Billboard, SF Weekly, Pitchfork, Passion of the Weiss, The Ringer, etc. Needle To The Groove Records + Dad Bod Rap Pod + SJSU
back in june i called up harlem rapper errol holden to learn what makes him tick up today at @passionweiss.bsky.social / POW mag
I Never Want This Song to End: An Interview with Errol Holden
The Harlem rapper opens up about leaving the streets and finding his voice.
powmag.net
she swear im colorblind produced by kenny segal feat billy woods out now via @backwoodzstudioz.bsky.social ditto.fm/doomed_ome
A fantastic and rare interview with the legendary, Bahamadia, about being raised on gospel and country, her roots on the drums and DJing, getting a deal via Guru, 30 yrs of "Kollage," classic D&D stories and the unreleased album planned with J Dilla. By DJ Short www.powmag.net/p/bahamadia-...
Everything Is Spiritual: An Interview with Bahamadia
The legendary Philadelphia MC opens up to POW in a rare interview.
powmag.net
Saw a video of an old dude tearing the shit out of a guitar and commenter says he likes when "old people tell you who they used to be." That's so degrading. This guy didn't used to be a shredder, he is a shredder and clearly always has been. James Hetfield is a senior citizen. He's never changed.
No Endtroducing: DJ Shadow’s Debut at 30 aquariumdrunkard.com/2026/07/22/n... Endtroducing..... rummages through hip hop's deepest memory just as the culture entered its first wave of slick commercial dominance. Thirty years later, we're still catching up to DJ Shadow's impossible debut.
Time for America’s favorite game, ‘Alchemist Or Hunter S. Thompson?’
It's been 5 years since the world lost Biz Markie On the anniversary of his passing, we're publishing an previously unpublished interview w/ the Biz about his all-time favorite rappers & producers, the Bridge Wars, the Juice Crew & more By @davidmadavidma.bsky.social www.powmag.net/p/biz-markie...
My Favorite Rappers Weren’t on Records: An Interview with Biz Markie
David Ma unearths a conversation with the departed legend.
powmag.net
You need to read this phenemonal @paulxt.bsky.social essay on Jay-Z's "The Blueprint." Don't just skim through it. www.powmag.net/p/the-2001-p...
The 2001 Project: Jay-Z's The Blueprint
For the third installment in our series reexamining hip-hop in the year 2001, Paul Thompson revisits the album that cemented Jay-Z's legacy.
powmag.net
new single from DOOMED! watching a movie called freedom by myself out now. #OMExKennySegalDOOMED ditto.fm/doomed_ome
This is one the best things I've ever read about "Reasonable Doubt. @sonraw.bsky.social goes deep on Jay-Z's gift for myth-making, his career pivots, and how his classic debut turned the once-overlooked BK rapper into the one of the defining artists of his generation www.powmag.net/p/jay-z-reas...
Coming of Age: How Reasonable Doubt Launched Jay-Z's Legacy
The debut album was not an instant classic upon its release in 1996. What changed?
powmag.net
as ever, psyched and honored to have contributed to this magisterial effort alongside some heavy hitters (@ocksportello.bsky.social, @svetz.bsky.social, @thobbsjourno.bsky.social, and many, many others)
Jeff Weiss@passionweiss.bsky.social · last mo.The 99 Greatest Jay-Z Songs From "A Week Ago" to "Izzo," and all "Pump It Up" freestyles in between. www.powmag.net/p/the-99-gre...
Afrodisiac: A Textual Meditation on Greg Tate: In 1982, my introduction to the music writing of future mentor and friend Greg Tate was a black magic moment that caused me to celebrate as his words literally changed my young life. lithub.com/afrodisiac-a... @hammerandhope.bsky.social
thinkin about how French Montana joined that rapper delegation to the Obama White House nearly 10 years before he shared a stage with Andrew Tate
Mel Brooks is older than sliced bread (first invented in 1928). I guess that makes sliced bread the best invention since Mel Brooks!
Doomed! from me and Kenny Segal was just called one of the most anticipated albums of the summer by @pitchfork.com it's a breakup album so it's not for the beach but it pairs well with poor decision making on a warm night out 8/14 via Backwoodz Studioz openmikeeagle.bandcamp.com/album/doomed
obligatory www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4FK...
22 Two's
YouTube video by JAY-Z - Topic
youtube.com
Sahil Kapur@sahilkapur.bsky.social · last mo."Trump keeps bringing up the number 22." Taking out 22 ships in Iran war. 22 fountains. A pool built 22 years ago. A flight 22 hours long. A story on NYT's page 22. 22 specialists at Walter Reed checkup. 22 Nobel economists. www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
Yeah, I'm putting this on again. This expanded Pressure Sounds 2-LP reissue with all the dubs is absolutely essential shit. Best thing I got last year. 10/10 record. Buy on sight.
On this day I suggest that editors send out rejections only in the afternoon so that their refusal of admitting to a writer's brilliance isn't the first thing they read in the morning.
Remy: I'm A Gret Writer Typing
ALT: Remy: I'm A Gret Writer Typing
static.klipy.com
I think what would really pull the union back together is another song where Andre 3000 goes “alright alright alright alright alright alright alright.” It’s been too long, you see. What if that’s what was holding the country together?
"There are the drums; there is the sense you’re in one of those Pokemon towns where you try to catch ghosts. Put another way: there’s no mistaking it for anything, or anyone else" A beautiful requiem for Tay Keith and the sound that he created By @paulxt.bsky.social www.powmag.net/p/tay-keith-...
Remembering Tay Keith, an Unmistakable Producer
The Memphis native passed away yesterday at his home in Nashville.
powmag.net
The story of EMF's "Unbelievable." David Ma breaks down the secret history of a how a slight by comedian Andrew Dice Clay and a fleeting Rick Rubin meetup led to one of the quintessential early 90s jock jams. www.powmag.net/p/emf-interv...
Exploding Eggs and Andrew Dice Clay: The Making of EMF’s “Unbelievable”
David Ma speaks to the British band about a whirlwind trip to L.A. and last-minute sample clearances.
powmag.net
if you squint at the word trillion it looks like guillotine
Q-Tip & The Beastie Boys performing "Get It Together" at the 1996 Tibetan Freedom Concert
@mike-eagle.bsky.social eagle and the seagull! been waiting on yall for this! funny note: i told kenny his moniker for solo instrumentals should be flock of segals. no laughs were had. cannot wait for this my gs.
open mike eagle@mike-eagle.bsky.social · 2mo agolive right now. the morning show with Open Mike Eagle: new OME single and album announcement | wtf is happening with Griselda? | Beatdown City Survivors twitch.tv/open_mike_ea...
